Tobacco smoking pipe conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

Tobacco smoking pipe conditioning apparatus comprises a pipereceiving container, and means including an air evacuation pump in communication with the container interior for reducing air pressure in the container to a level at which smoking deposits on the pipe are vaporized and withdrawn from the container interior.

United States Patent Ellison Feb. 8, 1972 [54] TOBACCO SMOKING PIPE CONDITIONING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: John M. Ellison, 4907 Ethyl Ave., Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91403 [22} Filed: Aug. 17, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 64,335

2,447,084 8/ 1948 Moore ..34/104 Fruth ....34/92 X Primary Examiner-Volodymyr Y. Mayewsky [52] US. Cl. ..34/218, 131/172, 131/244, Atmmey white Haefliger and Bachand 219/371, 219/438, 219/521 [51] Int. Cl ..F26b 25/16 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field Search ..219/400,41l,362, 430, 371,

219,439, 385486, 521, 34/92, 104, 12, Tobacco smoking pipe conditioning apparatus comprises a 13 U172 244 pipe-receiving container, and means including an air evacuation pump in communication with the container interior for M! reducing air pressure in the container to a level at which [56] M CM smoking deposits on the pipe are vaporized and withdrawn UNITED STATES PATENTS from the container interior.

2,577,278 12/1951 Sellers ..34/ 104 1 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures IO a TOBACCO SMOKING PIPE CONDITIONING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to conditioning of smoking pipes. More specifically, it concerns the relatively rapid removal of tobacco and moisture deposits from pipes to enable resumption of smoking with maximum pleasure.

Pipe smokers commonly find it necessary to utilize an inventory of pipes and to rotate their usage on a day-to-day basis after the pipes are broken in. Even so, a pipe which has been laid aside for several days may be found unpleasant to the taste when smoking is resumed, despite normal cleaning of such a pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide pipe conditioning apparatus and method for overcoming the above problem as well as other problems associated with tobacco smoking pipes. Basically, the apparatus of the invention comprises a container having an opening through which a pipe or pipes are received, and a closure for that opening; and means including an evacuation pump in communication with the container interior for reducing the air pressure in the container to a level at which smoking deposits on the pipe (such as volatizable tobacco and moisture deposits) become vaporized and are withdrawn from the container interior. As a result, a pipe treated in this way is found to be rapidly restored to a condition favoring smoking with maximum pleasure.

Additional objects of the invention include the provision of a radiant heat source (as for example an electric light bulb) associated with the container to enhance vaporization of the deposits; the provision of a container closure to drawn toward the container interior in response to reduction of pressure in the container, and a seal to seal off between the cover and container when the closure is so displaced; the provision of a pipe rack received into the container and by means of which multiple pipes may be quickly placed into and removed from the container; and the provision of valving as will be described for controlling backfilling of air into the evacuated container to enable withdrawal of the lid and removal of the conditioned pipes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of illustrative embodiments, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a side elevation, taken in section, showing one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing an environmental application of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1, the pipe conditioning apparatus includes a container having an open top at 11 through which smoking pipes 12 are downwardly received. A rack 13 may be utilized to support the pipes, as shown, whereby a number of pipes may be lowered into the receptacle on the rack. A closure or cover 14 for the open-topped receptacle is then placed thereon, and an communicates with the container interior 16 via a duct or line 18 which may, if desired, contain a three-way valve 19. At

such time as it is desired to remove the pipes from the evacuated container, the valve 19 may be opened to atmosphere at 40 when closed to the pump, to accommodate pressure rise in that container. Alternatively, a valve 20 in a line 21 carried by the closure 14 may be opened to allow airflow into the container interior.

It is found that smoking pipes 12 may be effectively deodorized by subjecting them to reduced pressure of bout 25 inches of mercury for several hours, i.e., between 5 and 10 hours for example.

If desired, the low-pressure conditioning of smoking pipes may be accompanied by heating to enhance the volatilization of deposits on the pipes. FIG. 2 shows a heater in the form of an electric light bulb 24 projecting in the container intermediate the pipe bowls 26 supported on a bracket or brackets attached to the container. Otherwise, the elements of the apparatus are the same as in FIG. 1.

The environment of the invention in FIG. 3 includes a cabinet 27 having a top opening into which the container 10 is set so that the container flange 28 seats on the cabinet top 29. Accordingly, the exposed lid 14 may be removed or replaced as by means of the handle 30. The evacuation pump may be located as seen at 31 within the cabinet interior. Cabinet legs are indicated at 32.

I claim:

1. In tobacco smoking pipe conditioning apparatus, the combination comprising a. a container having an opening through which the pipe is receivable, and a closure for said opening,

b. a tobacco smoking pipe received in the container interic. means including an evacuation pump in communication with the container interior for reducing the air pressure in the container to a level at which smoking deposits on the pipe are vaporized and withdrawn from the container interior, a duct communicating between the pump and the container interior,

e. said container opening upwardly and said closure extending over said opening to be drawn toward the container interior in response to operation of said pump, and a loop seal located to seal off between the closure and container,

f. there being an electric light bulb located to radiate heat in the container to enhance vaporization of said deposits,

g. a rack received into the container interior through said opening, the rack having shoulder means to seat and position the pipe thereon,

h. and there being valve means operable to control communication between the pump and said interior, via said duct, and to control admission of air into the container interior. 

1. In tobacco smoking pipe conditioning apparatus, the combination comprising a. a container having an opening through which the pipe is receivable, and a closure for said opening, b. a tobacco smoking pipe received in the container interior, c. means including an evacuation pump in communication with the container interior for reducing the air pressure in the container to a level at which smoking deposits on the pipe are vaporized and withdrawn from the container interior, a duct communicating between the pump and the container interior, e. said container opening upwardly and said closure extending over said opening to be drawn toward the container interior in response to operation of said pump, and a loop seal located to seal off between the closure and container, f. there being an electric light bulb located to radiate heat in the container to enhance vaporization of said deposits, g. a rack received into the container interior through said opening, the rack having shoulder means to seat and position the pipe thereon, h. and there being valve means operable to control communication between the pump and said interior, via said duct, and to control admission of air into the container interior. 